Doping in soccer

A difference between the cycling sport and football is the use of doping tests. While in cycling they test urine and blood regularly throughout the year and practicing every day through its whereabouts to be available for doping authorities. In German top football, there is no testing of blood - only urine. A player gets an average tested every third year, and the player gets at least 60 minutes warning before it happens. It is enough to blur the consumption of doping. The former athlete, Austrian Stefan Matschiner, has in court admitted to being a distributor of doping substances, and he has told how he  in the period 2003-2009 has provided performance-enhancing drugs to a number of footballers in several European top clubs.

The ex president from the Spanish football team Real Sociedad has revealed that his club during his presidency bought illegal performance-enhancing drugs, including in 2002, when the team sensationally won silver in La Liga. During interrogations by the Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in the so-called Operation Puerto scandal it has emerged that only 30 out of his 200 customers were cyclists. The 30 cyclists have been revealed by  name. In contrast, the other 170 remain anonymous. It is, says Fuentes, especially tennis and soccer players. According to notes from Fuentes files that he besides individual training was focused on working with big clubs like AC Milan, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid - and thus also the successful Spanish national football team.

Top players currently playing at an equally high level and with as much intensity in one match last ten minutes that in the first ten. Years ago, where players spent 20-30 percent less energy in a football game at the Champions League level, dragged the players through the end of the match, after which they fell exhausted on the grass. You do not see anymore. It may be due to better training methods, but it can also be attributed to the blood doping or taking EPO. An example of how athletes are treated differently, the Brazilian soccer player Deco, who in May this year was busted in a drug test with an illegal diuretic drug that is known as camouflage fabric for doping in the blood. In June, Deco almost acquitted in court because his explanation that the substance came from 'contaminated' vitamin pills were taken at face value. Deco received 30-day quarantine, which he can serve as the Brazilian tournament summer vacation.

But in may 2013 uefa changed policy and  UEFA will retrospectively study 900 doping samples as it attempts to combat use of performance-enhancing drugs.It will also carry out blood testing in more competitions and consider using biological passports.